Trimming machine



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,595

s. J. FlNN TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19, 1924 59 F l g. 119 116 27 51 411 4 8 Patented Feb. .21, 1928. i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sIpNEY J. FINN, or BEVERLY, mes

GHINERY oonroBArIoN, or 'rh'ri asoN, NEW

JERSEY.

CHUSETTS, A SSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- JERSEY, A CORPORATION or New TBIHMING imcnnm Application filed August 19, 1924. Serial No. 732,992.-

This invention relates to machines for i use in the manufacture of boots andshoes and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine designed to trim the linings. of rubber overshoes and rubber boots. i

In the manufacture of rubber overshoes, it is customary first to place thelining upon alast or form and thento build the rest of the overshoe, piece by piece, over the; lining. After the overshoe has been built and val canized, the surplus lining which projects above the edge of the rubber upper is slit so that the overshoe may be removed from the form; and, in order to complete the over-shoe, this projecting lining must be cut off close to the edge of the upper. r

A machine which has been used to a considerable extent for performing this operation is shown in application Ser. No. 659,177, filed August 24, 1923, in the name of James A. Brogan. This machinecomprises cooperating rotarycutters for seven. ing the pro ecting lining, and a pair of roll being pressed against a fixed abutment on the shaft by aspring-pressed collar which. engages the opposite end and and is positively driven by the shaft' The,ro1l is thus driven frictionally and permitted to yield in a direction transverse to its axis of rotation. A feed roll of this kind not only grips the work firmly but is not af fected in any in detrimental manner by receiving more or less of the oil which is commonly supplied to the cutters toa-facilitate their cutting action. Q

The lining of rubber footwear is common- 1y a fabric containing more or less rubber; and that of rubberboots is frequently quite bulky. In either case, considerable difiiculty has been experienced clean cut to sever the lining.

rlccording to another feature of the invention improved cutting means is in effecting a rovided. In the illustrative machine tlihre are two cooperative rotary shearing cutters arranged in lapped relation, and they are slightly skewed relatively to each other in such a way that the only point at which theytouch eachother is on the cutting edge of each. Bythus localizing their contact andbyma-intaining a moderate pressure one against the other, a most satisfactory shearing action is insured. Preferabl and as of thin,

shown, one of the cutters'is a dis flexible spring steel, and it is maintained against the other cutter with a forcesuificient to maintain it in a state of slight flexure. The action of the cutters, each on the other, has a sharpeningefli'ect which does away with removing the flexible cutter to sharpen it. This sharpening effect can be regulated by regulating the pressure with which the cutters are held against each other. i

In machines of this general type, it is ours tomary to provide two guards, one for the upper cutter and one for the lower cutter, the guards being spaced apart a distance suflicient to permit the projecting lining to pass between them but insuflicient to permit the lining and "upper so to pass, According to another feature of the invention, the guard for one of the cutters is so mounted that it may be moved away from the other guard, at anytime during the operation of the machine, to facilitate the passage of a seam or other thickened lining portion between the guards.

These and other features of the invention, including certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will be described as embodied in an illustrative machine and pointed out in the appended claims. Referring now to the accompanying drawg s r Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in sect-ion,.of a machine in which the present invention i's'embodied; i i

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through thecutters and feed mechanism;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a portion of the machine; t

Figure 4 is an elevation of a washer which rotates with the upper shaft;

Flgure 5 is an elevation, somewhat diagrammatic, and upon a greatly enlarged scale, showing the relative positions of the cutters; I 3

Figure 6 is a perspective of the'support used when rubber boots are being trimmed, and 1 Figure 7 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the means for limiting the extent to which the upper cutter may be forced toward the lower cutter.

Mounted in suitable bearings, two of which are located in the outer forked end of an overhanging arm 8 of the machine are two shafts 9 and 11 arranged in parallel planes one above the other. Fastened to the outer end of the upper shafti), in a manner which will presently be described, is a small cutter 13. Cooperating with thiscutter is a frusto-conical member herein shown as consisting of two parts, a shear member portion 15 and a work-supporting portion 17 These two parts are practically one, being held rigidly together and to the shaft 11 by means of collar 19 on the shaft, a washer 21 and a nut 23 whichis threaded upon a reduced portion of the outer end of the shaft;

The cutter 13 is small disk of spring steel having at its center a hole to receive a screw 25 by which the cutter is fastened to the shaft 9. This shaft (see Fig. 1) has an extensible connection with the shaft 27 of the motor 29 by which it is driven. Fastened to the shaft 9 by a pin 31 is an elongated pinion 33 from which the lower shaft 11 is driven through gear 35. and intermediate shaft'111. At the left of the pinion 33 are two washers; and heldagainst the left-hand washer by a strong'compression spring 37 is a sleeve 39. The spring 37 urges the shaft 9 to the right, thereby pressing together the overlapping portions of the cutters 13, 15 with a force sufficient, to flex the flexible cutter 13. In order ,to limit adjustably the extent to which the shaft 9 may be pushed to the right, a collar 41, slidable on the shaft 9, is urged at all times to the left by a comparatively weal: spring 13 which bears at one end against tl e collar and at the other against a washer 15 which in turn bears against a shoulder located inside the arm 8. The collar 41 (see Figure 7 is provided with a radial tapped hole into which extends the end of the stem of a clamping screw 49, said stem also extending ated degree by Fi 5, is obtained by arranging the shafts 9 and 11 in a skewed relation in which their axes are offset from intersect- I ing relation. The; offset relation is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but the skewed relation would not be perceptible in these figures since'the skewing is horizontal and of only one or two degrees magnitude. Thus, although the shafts 9 and 11 appear to be parallel, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, it is because the horizontal planes of their axes are parallel.

' The axes themselves are non-parallel and in non-intersecting relation, and consequently the pressure of the cutters against each other is only at the critical point where the shear ing takes place. The operating connect-ion between the shafts 11 and 111 includes a universal joint 55 which compensates for their angular relation.

In the operation of the machine, the work passes through it in too manner indicated in Figure 2 in which the rubber upper is shown at and the lining at 200, the portion of the llning which projects beyond the edge of the upper being engaged by feed i'nechanismJ This feed mechanism comprises a lower feed member 57 connected with the collar 19 by a pin 59 and having two ribs 61, and an upper feed member 63 which extends into the groove between the ribs. This upper feed member 63 is held in place frictionally by pressure exerted against its opposite ends or faces so that it may move transversely of the shaft 9. The right-hand face is held arraii'ist a washer 65 which is held from movement to the right by the out-turned end of a sleeve 67, said sleeve in turn being held in place by a second sleeve 69 which engages a lien, the lefthand end of the sleeve 67. The sleeve 69 is held in place by the upper cutter 13. Located between the left-hand end ofthe sleeve 67 and a shoulder on the shaft 9 is a washer 71 (see Figure 4) having two diametrically opposite lugs 73, said lugs being received respectively in two diametricah ly opposite slots formed in the edge of a cupshaped member 77 which is loose on the sleeve 67 and is pressed by a coiled spring 79 against the left-hand face of the feed member or roll 63. It will be understood that the cutter 13, the sleeves 67 and 69 and the washer 71 are held rigid with. the shaft and that thespring-pressed cup-shaped member '77 is posltively driven by means of the lugs 7 3 on the washer 71. The narrow feed roll 63 has through its center an opening 81 of considerably greater diameter than the sleeve 69 that extends through it, and the axis of the roll is above that of the elements by which itis clamped and rotated. Consequently, since the rotation and friction of the clamping elements tends constantly to force the roll 63 toward the roll 57 it causes the rolls to grip the lining 200 with a force sufficient to feed it uniformly. y

In order to guide thework properly to the cutters and at the same time to prevent accidental injury to the upper, two guards are provided, one associated with each cutter. The guard 83 encircles the upper portion of the periphery of the upper cutter, is adjustable lengthwise of the shaft 9 and is held in adjusted position by means of a screw 85 which passes through a slot in the holder .86 in which the guard is mounted, and is threaded into the upper fork of the arm 8. When in properly ad usted position, the flat outer face of the guard is slightly in advance of the flat face of the cutter 13, the purpose being both to prevent accidental cutting of the upper and to prevent the bead 300 at the edge of the upper from being rubbed excessively by the flat face of the upper cutter 13. Associated with the lower cutter 15 is a guard 87 of generally segmental sha e, the outer edge of which extends slightly eyond the edge of the cutter, as shown in Figure 3, said guard being adjustable horizontallyand vertically. The horizontal adjustment is made possible by a screw 89 which passes through a slot in a block 91, in which the stem of the guard is slidable, and is threaded into said stem. Thevertical adjustment is made possible by a screw 93 which passes through a vertical slot in the block and is threaded into a vertical rib on the lower fork of the arm 8 upon which the block is slidable. 'By referring to Figure 3 it willbe seen that there is formed between the two guards a passageway in advance of the overlapping portions of the cutters; and, in the operation of the machine, the guard 87 is adjusted to such a vertical position that this passageway is of sufficient height to permit the lining but not the upper to pass through it.

There are times, however, for example when a thick seam is encountered, when the height of this passageway should be in creased. In order to permit the upper guard to be raised at any time during the operation of the machine, said guard is normally held in the position shown in Figure 3 but may at any time be swung in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 9. To this end, the guard 83 has formed on its rear face a segmental rib 95 which is slidable in a correspondingly shaped groove formed in the forward end of the holder 86, the guard being held from becoming disconnected from the holderby a plate97held in place bya screw 99, said plate being provided with a segmental slot 101 topermit travel of a pin 1 103 which is driven intothe guard 83. Embracing the stem of this. pin is a yoke 105 formed'on a lever 107 pivoted at 109 to a stationary bracket "113. A spring 114 wound around the pivot 109 and having one end extending across one edge of the bracket 113 and the other end extending across the adjacent edge of the lever 10'? tends at all times to hold the lever, and with it the guard 83,

in the position shown withthe end of the stop screw 115 in contact with the stop 116,

the screw beingthreaded through a bracket on the lever, and the stop being formed on the bracket 113. Extending downward from the lever 107 is a linger-piece 117 by which thelever may at any time be pushed to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, to swing the guard 83 in a clockwise direction and thereby lift the eifective leg (the left-hand one) of the guard. A stop screw 119, threaded through a flange on the lever, then contacts with the frame of the machine to limit this swinging movement.

When the lining which projects above the topsof rubber boots is to be trimmed, the support shown in Figure 6 maybe used. This support comprises a bracket 121 having ears adapted to lie on opposite sides of the lower fork of the arm 8, said ears being provided with screws 123 adapted to be threaded into suitable threaded sockets one of which is shown at 125 (see Figure 1). The bracket is also provided with a screw hole 127 which, when the bracket is in place, registers with a threaded socket 129 (see also Figure 1). A screw (not shown) passes through the hole 127 into the socket 129. An extensible and laterally movable supporting arm is pivotally connected to the bracket 121 by a screw 131, said arm comprising telescopically related sections 133 and 137. A set screw 135 is arranged in the section 133 to engage and fasten the section 137 inadjusted position. A roller 139 is arranged on the section 137 to contact with the inside of the leg of a rubber boot at or near the ankle portion to support the latter while the top of the boot is supported by the shear member-15. The pivot 131 provides for swinging the-foot of the boot from side to side as may be necessary to keep the trimming flush with the top edge of the boot.

When this support is attached as described above, the axis of the pivot 131 intersects thecutting'locality to prevent dislodgment of the work from the cutters by angular movement about said pivot. The bracket 121 and the arm-section 133 are preferably provided withco-operative bearing portions 122 and 132 far enough from the pivot 131 to brace the arm and take some of the strain from the pivot.

In order to facilitate the cutting operation, means are provided for supplying oil or other lubricant to the upper cutter, the lubricant being contained in a reservoirltl in the form of an oil cup and flowing down through a vertical duct 143 formed in the inner face of the plate 97. It thus reaches the outer face of the guard and is directed by two converging grooves 143 to the upper edge of the cutter 13.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for the work,

a rotary shaft, a cutter fast to the shaft, a feed member loose on the shaft and capable of bodily movement transversely of the shaft, and means for causing said member to rotate with said shaft.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pair of rotary shafts, cooperating cutters mounted one on each shaft, and feed members also mounted one on each shaft, one of said members being capable of bodily movement transversely of the shaft upon which it-is mounted.

3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pair of cooperatmg rotary cutters, shafts upon which the cutters are mounted, and cooperating feed membersmounted respectively one on each shaft, one of said members being yieldingly clamped to the shaft on which it is mounted.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pair of cooperating rotary cutters, shafts upon which the cutters are mounted, cooperating feed members mounted respectively one on each shaft, one of said members having in it an opening larger thanjthe cross-section of the shaft upon which it is mounted, and means acting through friction upon the member for holding it yieldingly in place.

5. A machine of the class described hav- .ing, in combination, a pair of cooperating rotary cutters, shafts upon which the cutters are mounted, and cooperating feed i'nen'ibers mounted respectively one upon each shaft, one of said feed members having in it an opening larger than the shaft upon which it is mounted, and frictional means for engaging the ends of the member to hold it in a plane transverse to the axis of the shaft while permitting it to move in said plane.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pair of cooperating rotary cutters, shaft-s upon which the cutters are mounted, and cooperating feed members mounted respectively one upon each shaft, one of said feed members having in it an opening larger than the shaft upon which it is mounted, and means for exer ing pressure against the ends of the shaft upon which it is mounted, and frictional means for engaging the ends of said roll to hold it yieldingly in position.

9. A machine for severing one layer of a composite piece of sheet material which projects beyond the edge of another layer having, in combination, cooperating rotary shear members, and feed mechanism adapted to engage the projecting portion of the layer which is to be severed, said m-echa nism comprising a feed roll having spaced ribs pro ect1ng therefrom and a second roll arranged to extend into the space.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, cooperating rotary shear members and mechanism adapted to feed the work to said members, said feed mechanism comprising afeed roll having spaced ribs projecting therefrom and a second roll arranged to force the work into the space.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a rigid shear member, flexible rotary cutter, the cutting portion of which is arranged in lapped relation to the shear member, and means for pressing the lapped portions of the shear member and the cutter together with a force suiiicient to maintain the cutter in a state of flexure.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shear member, a flexible rotary cutter, the cutting portion of which arranged in lapped relation to the shear nember, and yielding means. for pressing the lapped portions of the shear member and the cutter together with a force suflicient to main ain the cutter in a state of flexure.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shear member, a flexible rotary cutter,t 1e cutting portion of which is arranged in lapped relation to the shear member, yielding means for pressing the lapped portions of the shear member and the cutter together with a force sufficient to maintain the cutter in a state of flexure, and a stop for limiting the extent to which the cutter may be pressed against the shear member.

14. A. machine of the class described having, in combination, two non-parallel rotary shafts, cooperating cutters carried thereby, one of which is flexible, the cutting portions of said cutters being lapped, and means for pressing said lapped portions together with a force sufiicient to flexthe flexible cutter.

15. A machine of the class described having, in combination, two non-parallel rotary shafts, cooperating cutters carried thereby, one of which is rigid and the other flexible, the cutting portions of said cutters being lapped, and means for pressing said lapped portions together with a force sufiicient to flex the flexible cutter. i p

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, two rotary shafts, cooperating cutters carried thereby, one of which is flexible, the cutting portions of said cutters being lapped, one of said shafts'being movable longitudinally in a direction t0 press said lapped portions of the cutters together, and yielding means for so moving the shaft with a force sufficient to maintain the flexible cutter in a state of flexure.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, two rotary shafts, cooperating cutters carried thereby, one of which is flexible, the cutting portions of said cutters being lapped, one of said shafts being movable longitudinally in a direction to press said lapped portions of the cutters togeiher, yielding means for so moving the shaft with a force sufficient to maintain the flexible cutter ina state of flexure, and a stop for limiting the movement of the shaft in response to the force of the yielding means. i

18. A trimming machine comprising two driven shafts the axes of which are skewed and offset from intersecting relation, cooperative feed rolls carried by said shafts res pectively, and two rotary cutters carried by said shaftsrespectively, said cutters having circular cutting edges that cross and touch each other in shearing relation.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, two rotary shafts, and cooperating cutters carried thereby, one of which cutters is flexible, the axis of one shaft being arranged at an angle to that of the other so that the planes of the contactin faces of the cutters are at an angle to each other.

20. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, two rotary shafts, coopcrating cutters carried thereby, one of which is flexible, the axis of one shaft being arranged at an angle to that of the other so that the planes of the contacting faces of the cutters are at an angle to each other, and means for pressing the cutters together operating rotary cutter, a guard partially surrounding the cutter, and means whereby the guard may be adjusted about the axis of the cutter during the operation of the machine. i

22. A machine for trimming from a com posite piece of sheet material a portion of one layer which projects beyond the edge of another layer having, in combination, a pair of cooperating rotary cutters, two guards one located adjacent to one cutter and the other adjacent to the other cutter, the space between the guards being ofsuflicient extent to permit passage through it of that layer only which is to be severed by the cutters, and means adapted to be manipulated at any time during the operation of the machine for increasing the space between the guards to permit a thickened portion of the layer which isto be severedto pass between them.

23. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pair of cooperating shear members, means for rotating one of said members, and a support for a hollow piece of work, said support comprising an elongatedmember arranged to engage the inside of the work and swing about an axis intersecting the shearing locality of said shear members.

24. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pair of cooperating shear members, means for rotating one of said members, and a support for a hollow piece of work, said support comprising an extensible member adapted to contact with the inside of the work. a

25. Amachine of the class described having, in combination, a pair of cooperating shear members, means for rotating one of said members, and a support for a hollow piece of work, said support comprising an extensible member and a roller carried thereby.

26. A trimming machine comprising two rotary cutters arranged in lapped relation and having circular cutting edges in shearing relation, one of said cutters being a thin flexible steel disk, the axes of said cutters being relatively skewed and offset from intersecting relation, and means for driving said cutters.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SIDNEY J. FINN. 

